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(Mabhena's career takes upswing).
Zimbabwean Benu Mabhena's acting career has exploded in Hollywood. Mabhena stars in a new movie, Blood Diamond, alongside Hollywood royalty, Leonardo DiCaprio who plays a calculating, unaffiliated Zimbabwe-born soldier of fortune named Danny.
The movie began showing in American theaters last Friday. Powerfully acted and vividly shot, director Edward Zwick takes an unflinching look at the brutality of the African diamond trade.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly star as three disparate figures in 1990s Sierra Leone who start out using each other and end up wanting to help each other. But Zimbabweans who have never heard of Benu would be wondering just under which rock she came from.
Indeed, there is nothing to go on -- except the fact that this is her big screen debut. On one website, Benu appears to suggest that she fled Zimbabwe "for her life" with her father four years ago -- possibly for political reasons. In the public domain, that's all there seems to be on her private life -- at least for now.
In Blood Diamond, Mabhena plays Jassie, Hounsou's wife whose children are in a refugee camp except one, Causo Kaypers, who has been kidnapped and brainwashed by rebels. She said in an interview: "I wanted to do my character justice, and portray exactly what happened and how women felt back then about their situation also."
Talking about the moment she met DiCaprio, Benu revealed: "He came and introduced himself to me and he is like 'I am Leo' and I was like 'I know'. And then he said we hadn't been properly introduced, and I was like 'I am Benu'."
DiCaprio, as Zimbabwean smuggler and ex-mercenary Daniel Archer, is constantly on the hunt for the biggest stone out there. Speaking impressively in several regional languages and accents, DiCaprio is a formidable force of nature. It feels like the first time he's played a real man, a dangerous man who's lived a life and done destructive things, and for once, his boyish good looks don't get in the way.
Hounsou, as fisherman Solomon Vandy, has been ripped from his home by militaristic rebels and forced to work in the diamond fields. He happens to have found an exceptional gem -- a pink diamond the size of a large ice cube -- and buried it in the ground. He always has tremendous presence just standing there silently, but here Hounsou gets the showiest role of the three as a husband and father who has no idea what happened to his family, and his fear and frustration are overwhelming.
And Connelly, as American journalist Maddy Bowen, is investigating the widespread violence and corruption that pervade the diamond industry. Connelly can be sly and sexy, fierce and feisty, but the concocted romance between her character and DiCaprio's feels forced.
Each of these people need something from the others at various times: Daniel needs Solomon's diamond; Solomon needs Daniel to help him sell the diamond to get his family out of a camp in Guinea; and Maddy needs them both for a story she's writing, one she hopes will stand out from the rest and open people's eyes back home to the atrocities she sees every day.
One such phenomenon is especially chilling: the methodology of taking young boys from their homes, putting automatic rifles in their tiny hands and turning them into remorseless killers. This is the fate that has befallen Solomon's oldest child, Dia (Kagiso Kuypers), who's kidnapped and brainwashed to become the same kind of young, zealous fighter that tore into his own village and destroyed his family.
The story of what happens to boys like Dia would have provided the material for a seriously compelling film all its own. Difficult as it is to watch, you'd like to see the subject explored further. Instead, trying to rescue him is just one component of the trio's long and arduous journey.
Daniel and Solomon struggle to survive a tremendously violent siege on the red-dirt roads of Freetown, Sierra Leone, where skinny kids blow up already dilapidated building using shoulder-mounted rocket launchers. And as they get closer to the hidden stone they seek, they also work together to endure thunderous air strikes on the diamond fields where Solomon once worked.
Whether or not these characters become better people because of their sacrifices is irrelevant -- the ultimate point of "Blood Diamond" is to make you think twice about where you buy that engagement ring or anniversary present.
(Source: By New Zimbabwe.Com. "Blood Diamond," a Warner Bros. Pictures release, runs 134 minutes.)
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See also: 10 Things Your Lollapalooza Outfit Says About You
By Reed Fischer
Ready for some GIFs? To quote Ozzy Osbourne, "I can't fucking hear you!" I said, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME GIFS?! This past weekend's running of Lollapalooza in Chicago was intense. The heat, the monsoon-like storm on Saturday, and even the lobster corn dogs all exceeded what the human body can take on a regular basis. But it was still a glorious three days for music and social behavior. Gimme Noise photographer Erik Hess' lens pointed every which way, and captured these 25 GIFs featuring the Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Fun, and so much more.
These White Panda fans got their money's worth.
During First Aid Kit on Friday, this crew member behind the stage was the envy of every person at Lollapalooza. Except maybe Jack White, who looked like he's been sleeping in a coffin these days.
These four Doomtree fans may not know each other, but their personalities all seem to mesh splendidly. The second guy from the right probably didn't realize that when he made that face we'd make it stay that way forever.
Doomtree's Mike Mictlan and P.O.S. remind the crowd how to participate.
Okay, okay Die Antwoord's Yo-Landi Vi$$er. You're not wearing a wire. Got it.
See Also:
Die Antwoord's DJ Hi-Tek twirled knobs and grimaced all through their Saturday set. This may have been the portion of the performance when he was repeating the loop, "DJ Hi-Tek fuck you in the ass."
These First Aid Kit devotees...
This moment was captured a mere six hours before Black Sabbath took the stage.
These fans are indeed calmly heading to the exit. This had to sting B.o.B that there wasn't more uproar when his slot was canceled.
See Also:
Lollapalooza 2012 suspended, resumed after dangerous weather conditions
Surprisingly, no one picked up a Slip 'n Slide during Lollapalooza's rain delay.
And was anyone more stoked to have the music start up again than Fun's Nate Ruess?
Possibly these two.
See Also:
Four reasons Lollapalooza needs EDM
When Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney starts beating on the skins...
... and Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach gets all soulful...
...Black Keys fans do this.
Nearby, the first celebratory beer bong of the night.
The balloons were very real during Fun.
Meanwhile, it seemed like Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos was looking for invisible balloons during this juncture in his set.
This was literally what Givers did for their entire performance.
To that, Michael Kiwanuka's bassist just shakes his head in disbelief.
At the Drive-in's Cedric Bixler-Zavala gets a mesmerizing amount of hang time.
See Also:
Best of Lollapalooza day three: At the Drive-in, Florence + the Machine and more
One of the highlights of Lollapalooza was undeniably this particular sign language interpreter. She not only conveyed the sensual words of the Weeknd, but also the emotion.
See Also:
Frank Ocean & the Weeknd at Lollapalooza, 8/4/12
Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne thanks you for your attention.
See Also:
Black Sabbath at Lollapalooza, 8/3/12
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subset: commoncrawl


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Looks like lots of engineers in Google are making use of their 20% to work on personal projects. After the success of Gmail Labs, the folks at Google have now launched Labs for Google Calendar.
To access Labs feature in Google Calendar, you will need to go to settings and click on the Labs tab.
There are 6 new Labs features available right now for Google Calendar.
The available features include:
- Ability to add background images to your Google Calendar
- Ability to attach Google Docs document, spreadsheet or presentation to a event.
- World Clock for displaying time across the world.
- A feature to jump to any given date.
- A feature to display the next meeting that is coming up on your agenda.
- And a ability to set your status as free or busy.
The available features already look pretty interesting and like Gmail we are pretty sure to expect more exciting features.
What do you think of the new Labs features in Google Calendar?
Introduction Google Calendar Labs [Official Google Apps Blog]


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I think there will be a problem doing the Ephant Mon custom for lack of avalibilty of the base figure. Heck, I do not even own a carded version let a lone a loose one.
Maybe using the Ephant Mon body would be better suited to a Group Project, as fewer people usually enter those because they are usually a little more specific? But I don't really care, whatever it is, I'm up for it.
I am up for the Admiral Daala as the group project. I made one a long time ago, like back in 1997, man. I would like to revisit her as my entry.
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The word "rogue" has several meanings. Some people envision a swashbuckling pirate, deftly wielding two maces and smashing faces in. Others imagine a trained ninja, assassinating marks silently in the night. Many of those with Dungeons & Dragons experience expect rogues to be similar to the thief, sneakily disarming traps and picking locks. I love the rogue class because it has enough versatility to meet all of these stereotypes and more.
Before dungeons were the streamlined "on rails" encounters of today, they were complex and open-ended. There were several paths to victory, and rogues had the ability to use their unique flair to unlock alternate routes. While it's obviously not good for business to have rogues be a pivotal part of every dungeon, it was nice to see our utility actually being utilized. Young rogues today don't get the experience of playing their class outside the box.


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River to Rainforest - Two Day Package ENQUIRY
- Duration: 2 Days (approx.)
- Location: Franklin, TAS
- Product code: R2R002
PRICES vary depending on availability, season, group size and composition. Contact us and we can organise to dovetail the experience into your existing plans.
This diverse and culturally-rich tour follows the story of the famous Huon Pine, from river to rainforest, and how the forest, landscapes, culture, and farming have made the Huon Valley what it is today.
Surrounding lush hills of temperate rainforest first fuelled the passion of pioneers whose skills survive today in the Huon Valley's centuries-old ship-building traditions. Wooden boats built here today use scarce remnants of 2,000 year-old Huon Pine. Famous for being lightweight, durable and craft-worthy, "Piners" would risk life and limb to navigate the most inaccessible stretches of river for this valuable timber resource.
You will meet the owners and crafts-people who build and sail traditional wooden boats made from Huon Pine and enjoy a calm-water sail on a traditional masted wooden sailing vessel.
You'll taste cider produced and exported by a local family who are descendants of Franklin's earliest settler and at lunch you will savour cider over a meal of fresh local produce.
You'll travel upriver to the airwalk at Tahune. Situated on the banks of one of Tasmania's last truly wild and powerful rivers, you'll witness huge flood-wrenched Huon Pine logs washed high above the waterline. Here you can drink in the romantic aspect of the Huon and Picton rivers up close, take a guided walk to a rare living stand of Huon Pines, and experience dramatic views from the elevated treetop walk and swinging bridge.
These surrounding hills feed the Huon River's sparkling, tannin-stained waters and are the source of the Huon Pine, lovingly crafted by Franklin's boat-building artisans.


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Q&A with Xuemei Han '07
Could you tell us a bit about your journey from a childhood in Inner Mongolia to F&ES?
I grew up in the countryside on a plain along the Yellow River at the foot of the Yinshan Mountains. Parents and schoolteachers used to warn us: "If you don't study hard, you will become a shepherdess and spend your life wandering outside and dealing with sheep every day." But I actually wanted to be a shepherdess, because I feel being with nature is very enjoyable. When I was six, my parents took my twin sister and me to Hohhot, the capital city of Inner Mongolia, to a get a better education. I did not become a shepherdess. Instead, I studied hard and got to go to Beijing Normal University. Looking for intimacy with nature led me to choose biology as my college major and ecology in graduate school. Then I came to F&ES in 2005 to study with Chad Oliver.
What got you interested in tigers?
One of my professors in Beijing, Jianping Ge, got a grant from a China-Russia cooperative science project to study biodiversity in northeastern China. It was a result of Chinese President Jiantao Hu's visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2005. Dr. Ge invited me to join this study. The Amur tiger's habitat is very much influenced by forest harvesting and forest dynamics, so we decided to study how sustainable forest management could enhance its conservation.
What did you see during your research along the China-Russia border?
There are many more people on the China side, and there's been much more timber harvesting in the past half-century. So regrowth makes the forest more uniformly dense. Fire has been strictly prohibited, but we saw fire evidence almost everywhere in the forests in Russia. Meanwhile, the enforcement of conservation and forestry regulations is much more strict on the China side.
That's surprising. China doesn't have a very good reputation for that sort of thing.
China can enforce its regulations very effectively if the central government has a strong mind to do so. Two things happened in 1998 that are important for Amur tiger conservation: the government ordered people to forfeit hunting guns in tiger habitat and China began its Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP), which has become one of the world's largest ecological rehabilitation projects. In the northeast and Inner Mongolia, the Amur tiger's old home range, the program covers 84.5 million acres (34.2 million hectares) of forestland and emphasizes reducing timber production, improving the forestry industry structure and conserving biodiversity. Three-quarters of the forest area there is set aside for preservation, with no logging or only restricted cutting for ecological protection. The remainder is open to commercial harvesting.
Did the forests you surveyed include the Hunchun Tiger Leopard Reserve?
I made measurements there to use in my forest growth model, and I also made surveys to check that I was accurately interpreting satellite images of the forest cover. Compared to the forests outside, the forest inside the reserve is more diversified. There's more old and complex forest, because the harvesting was limited along the border. There's also more open and savanna forest, because livestock grazing was encouraged as a replacement when timber harvesting ended.
How are people dealing with the 1998 conservation requirements?
Sadly, the conservation measures don't really benefit the local people. Many forest workers have lost their jobs because the NFPP and the establishment of the reserve have stopped all logging operations. But the local people also admit that there were very few big trees left worth harvesting. If we can manage the forest scientifically, it will benefit wildlife and also create many employment opportunities for local people. One thing that the conservation NGOs do well in the reserve is organize volunteers to remove snares. But why stop there when we need to do the same thing in the forests outside the reserve? Also, the volunteers are mainly university students from all over China. Why not hire local people?
What kind of response did you get to your ideas for tiger recovery?
When I first presented my idea that the real problem is a shortage of forest stand structures (especially open and savanna structures) suitable for the Amur tiger, I got many questions and challenges from scientists. The "steady-state climax" perspective prevailed. They were educated to believe that a lack of primary forest and "too much" human disturbance were the ultimate causes of any biodiversity loss. But as I explained my logic and showed my study again and again, I could feel growing acceptance of my idea among the scientists. I also talked to some forestry administration officials who were quite interested in developing the tools of sustainable forest management. They're in a difficult position, under pressure from international NGOs for passive conservation measures, and at the same time looking to keep the forestry function running. Laypeople were always very kind and generous, but they don't feel that conserving the tiger has much to do with them. This is something I want to change if I can. The local people need to get involved when we talk about conservation on their land and with their resources.


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text: Hi, I'm trying to use this option to exclude certain pages. I've entered the page ID numbers, but the pages are still showing up in the page menu bar. I've refreshed a number of times, and I've combed over the site to see if I'm doing something wrong, but I must be missing something. Help?


text:
- Did you mean
- classes events selling december consider
Search results
Learning together safely: virtual Farm Science Review a success
statistics show that the event's website, which hosted dozens of live and recorded webinars from Sept. 22 to ... their class, so we know that one device could realistically have the potential of 20 views," he said. On ...
Cargill Trivia Night
pre-registers and attends the event will be eligible for a door prize that will be sent out after the event ... . The winner of the trivia night will be announced at the end of the event and a prize will be mailed to ...
Selling meat from your farm
Alayna DeMartini COLUMBUS, Ohio—More and more Ohio livestock producers are selling their meat ... farmers can certainly be higher than selling livestock to a company that processes and packages it for ... in packages of three or four? There's a lot to consider. Ruff will share his advice to livestock ...
Fall Food Preservation Virtual Series
Preservation Office Hours". These online classes emphasize the science behind preservation so that everyone ... precisely to ensure a high-quality, safe product that they and their family can enjoy. All online classes ...
Farm Science Review draws virtual visitors
"I do know of teachers who attended sessions and played them live to their class, so we know that one ... Faculty and Staff Farm Science Review News Tips and Events Media Advisory 4-H Business and Economics ... College Events/Announcements Columbus area (Ohio) Community Crops Faculty and Academics Food, Food Safety, ...
Cincinnati Buckeye Run 2020 Results
a virtual format, events like the Second Annual Cincinnati Buckeye Run still occurred in a different way. In ... 2020, participants were asked to register online and were encouraged to donate, though the event was ... OSU Extension, Hamilton County held a run virtually and the event was successful at brining awareness ...
2020 Hamilton County Master Gardener Volunteer Training Begins October 8th
Volunteer Training Class. The Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides intensive training in horticulture ... Thursday for 10 weeks, beginning October 8th. Classes will be from 9am to 4pm. The cost of the class is ...
Cincinnati Buckeye Run 2021
more youth in 2021! We encourage you to participate in this event and show your support for 4-H ... community clubs, virtual Special Interest (SPIN) clubs, virtual classroom engagement and special events like ...
Go outdoors, but watch for ticks
OARDC 4-H College Events/Announcements Columbus area (Ohio) Community Faculty and Academics Health and ...
Wood Destroying Insect Inspection- Online Webinar- November 12
8:15 a.m. A short tutorial of the webinar system will take place at 8:30 and the class begins at ... following the class. There is a $30 fee for any returned checks. Training Location This course will be ... Inspections, click here. Class Schedule 8:30 a.m.- Log in: Become familiar with webinar system 8:45 a.m.- ...


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Papaya Street Grill is a fast-casual restaurant with a global menu located in Dublin. Dishes and sauces travel the globe from Thailand to Bali to Minnesota and beyond.
While the menu listed plenty of options for vegan and vegetarian diners, the counter staff was flummoxed by questions about the ingredients in particular sauces. Diners with allergies might want to contact Papaya Street Grill ahead of time. Nervous vegetarian diners could also order only vegan items from the menu if they are unable to confirm what ingredients are in particular dishes.
The build-your-own bowl entree can be built on salad, rice or noodles. Tofu can be added and a sauce can be chosen. The vegetables were limp and needed sauce to cover up the imperfections.
While the concept of Papaya Street Grill is interesting, getting answers to dietary concerns is difficult. The food isn't good enough to make the struggle worthwhile.


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Truck Radiator Cooling System - Got Cooling Issues?
Overcome Your Overheating
Falling victim to radiator boil over or having your engine vapor lock while cruising through town is never a good thing. Finding yourself in the left turn lane at a red light with the engine sputtering and the temp gauge rising has certainly put some extra beads of sweat on many a brow. And while some may enjoy pushing a steaming truck through a busy intersection while Joe Public lashes obscenities, there really isn't a good reason why any of our trucks "shouldn't" be running cool to begin with. A properly set up cooling system should be able to keep even the most radical engine configurations in the most cramped engine compartments at or under a realistic operating temperature. That being said, though, it is a common problem we see day in and day out at events across the country, and even on some of our own projects. But before one can tackle a cooling system issue, we need to understand the basics of said system and what causes most vehicles to overheat in the first place.
The standard liquid cooling system is made up of passages inside the engine block and heads where coolant is circulated via a water pump and cooled by passing through a radiator, controlled by a thermostat, and pressurized by the radiator cap. The circulating coolant soaks up the heat from the engine as it travels through the water passages in the block and heads and is cooled by the airstream as it travels through the radiator. Once cooled, it travels back through the engine to absorb more heat. To ensure that the coolant stays at or above a certain temperature and that the water pump doesn't force the coolant through the radiator too quickly, a thermostat is used between the engine and the radiator. When left out, the coolant is "pushed" through the radiator and not allowed sufficient time to cool in the air stream. Conversely, the absence of the thermostat can lead to an engine that never reaches optimum operating temperature (usually between 190-195 degrees). In order to prevent the coolant from boiling, the system is pressurized, raising the boiling point considerably. Too much pressure however, can cause the hoses and other parts to burst, so a radiator cap designed to release pressure at a specified point is used. The pressure released by the cap is contained in an overflow container and plumbed on a closed system that returns the coolant back to the radiator once the pressure has subsided.
An overheating situation can occur anytime the cooling system's ability to absorb, transport, or dissipate heat is breached. This can be caused by something as simple as low coolant level or a defective radiator cap to poor airflow through the radiator. The ability of the cooling system to properly circulate coolant through the engine and radiator directly affects its ability to shed heat. When the coolant's circulation is restricted by means other than the appropriate thermostat, temperatures begin to rise and the engine starts to overheat. Additionally, if the airflow through the radiator is inefficient, such as at low speeds or due to a faulty fan, the radiator will fail to do its job.
Having a vehicle that has a tendency to overheat can be a frustrating predicament to say the least. Stuck in traffic with a climbing temp gauge can make for an extremely stressful afternoon. And when this becomes your experience every time you take out your ride, those trips are going to become less and less frequent. Armed with a bit of knowledge on how a cooling system functions, however, can be the difference between a truck that overheats and a truck that's used to overheat.
Hot Tips For Your Cooling System* Ensure that the timing and carburetor are adjusted correctly
* Use the proper pressure radiator cap with a sacrificial anode for your radiator.
* Choose a radiator that is equal to or larger than the original radiator for the engine application, not the vehicle. This is a case where bigger is almost always better.
* Ensure that the lower radiator hose is equipped with a spiral-wound spring inside to prevent collapse.
* Use the proper ratio pulleys in the correct pairing to ensure that the water pump is driven at the applicable speed in relation to the crank.
* Whether it's electric or mechanical, the cooling fan needs to be properly shrouded in the radiator. No more than 1-inch clearance between the shroud and the fan blade tips with the fan mounted midway in the shroud is ideal.
* Use a 50-50 mix of water and ethylene glycol (coolant).
* Back-flush the cooling system whenever possible to eliminate any foreign objects/debris that may gather in the cooling passages.
* Use a 185- to 195-degree Superstat or equivalent high-flow thermostat (with appropriate cap pressure).
* Ensure that the overflow tank on your cooling system is adequate to collect the coolant that is purged from the system. A tank with a quart to a quart and a half is typical for a V-8 system.
* Ensure that there are sufficient openings in the engine compartment to allow the exit of all air drawn from the front of the vehicle.
CoolantsLike the oil that lubricates and keeps your engine running (or should), the coolant you choose to help cool that same engine should be chosen wisely. And unless you live in a paradise-like atmosphere, straight water won't cut it for anything street driven. So, just what is the best all-around coolant, if there even is such a thing? First, let's weigh our options: Ethylene glycol versus propylene glycol.
Ethylene glycol (EG) is the good-old yellow antifreeze we're all accustomed to by now-you know, the stuff that can kill your dog, is bad for the environment, and-for those fortunate enough to fall for the marketing ploy-comes conveniently pre-mixed 50-50 with water (for the same price as a full bottle of unmixed antifreeze!). It does just what it's supposed to do when used accordingly-cool an engine-but it's also toxic and non-biodegradable.
Propylene glycol (PG), on the other hand, is more tree-hugger friendly. Typically, this formulation is substantially less toxic, but at the same time, offers nearly the same cooling characteristics as EG-sometimes, even more so. In the case of Amsoil's Antifreeze and Coolant, the company claims consumers can expect to get seven (yes, seven!) years, or 250,000 miles, use just out of one treatment. Furthermore, on top of being compatible with ALL brands of coolant-including DEX-Cool, Sierra, and Zerex-Amsoil Antifreeze and Coolant is also reported to help stop leaks (cause by hairline cracks in welds and seams) due to its ability to adhere to metal.


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Okay, okay…I'll stop pretending I know anything about Spanish. (Although I *will* say that it is awfully embarrassing/depressing that after six years of studying the language […seven years ago…], my vocabulary is limited to a few choice phrases…and even *those* I am essentially scared to say out loud to native speakers.)
And…because I know how easy it is to forget the day-to-day when you go on a trip like this and then try to recall what exactly happened to everyone back home ("There was a zipline…and then we saw some monkeys…"), I made a concerted effort to record the goings-on at the end of each day. What follows is basically me writing up my notes. (And just to cover my bases, I suppose, I should note that these recollections are mine and mine alone…and I'm only human and it's possible my memory is flawed and that these recollections may not be precisely accurate…so. Perhaps read with a grain of salt. [Also? This turned out to be really long. (Even for me…) And I've been working on it forever…and as I read it for the umpteenth time, part of me is tempted to just click "Publish" already…so Days Eight and Nine may not have received the tender loving care that they deserve…and for that I hope you'll accept my humble apologies.])
Day One
Our flight was at 5:45 in the morning and a car was coming to pick us up around 3…so we just stayed up all night. It probably goes without saying that we were pretty exhausted and delirious by the time we made it to the airport. And after telling J that the easiest way to get from my apartment to JFK was to just call a car service and that this was a unique New Yorky thing and she was hip to the scene because she was with a local…we ended up with a guy who parked at the opposite end of my street and who didn't move the car when we came out of my apartment at 3:00 in the morning with all of our luggage. (And he wasn't driving a black Lincoln! It was, like, a gray Nissan Altima.) And then he drove like a bat out of hell and sort of got lost in Queens…and it wasn't a Dial-7 sort of experience. We made it to JFK in two distinct pieces though…and literally the moment we walked through the airport doors, the handle on my purse broke. It was obviously too late to do anything about it (although we did search for glue at the Miami airport…only to find a man in one of the gift shops who tried to stick my strap back together with scotch tape and then advised me to "pull as hard as [I could]," and I promptly ripped it right back apart again…so he gave me a big shopping bag…that basically served as my purse for the rest of the trip.).
We were so tired we slept most of the way on both flights…and when we actually landed in San Jose, I could see some green landscape and life going on outside…but it was still sort of hard to believe that we were actually there — even when we were waiting in line to go through Customs. I had reserved a car…so J was able to flex her language muscles for the first time when we picked it up. And once we were at the actual off-site rental counter (and they told us not to move the car if we had an accident as it would render our insurance null and void), I asked for directions to the hotel…but the guy behind the counter was a little dubious. I had picked the Gran Hotel Costa Rica because my book said it was in the center of San Jose and that it was very close to the Teatro Nacional and that it had been around since the 1930s and had some Art Deco charm to it or somesuch…and it just seemed more unique and San-Jose-y than, say, the Holiday Inn. But the guy asked if we had prepaid…and then proceeded to give us directions because we *had*, but he said it would have been a lot easier to have just stayed near the airport.
And as we headed out for the first time in our Toyota Corolla in search of the Gran Hotel, J said something like, "I hope they have parking…" and it was the first time I had actually thought about something like that. I guess I figured parking was a given. (I think this is what they call foreshadowing…)
So…finding the actual hotel wasn't all that hard. There was a big road called Paseo Colon…and I think we had to make one lefthand turn, but that was about it. We could see the hotel off to our left. However…the hotel was in the middle of a big square…and there was no place to park nearby. So…we sort of ended up going around and around the square, wondering what to do. We eventually figured out that "parqueo" is "parking lot" and saw a tiered structure on one of the side roads…in which we found a very nice group of men who listened patiently to us — J was so much better at speaking than I was — and one of them even drew us a map. We ended up back in front of the hotel…where we saw a road sort of going underneath the hotel and the words "NO" and "something." "Maybe it means 'Parking for Hotel Guests Only!'" I guessed optimistically. But, nope. We couldn't park there either. So…we ended up pulling up in front of the hotel and were sort of despairing over what to do…when a man approached us to pay to park there…and he was the one who finally explained that we had to park in the lot with the hut with the blue roof a little further down the road.
When we finally pulled into the place where we were actually allowed to leave the car, a man approached and asked for our room number. And while, in hindsight, I probably could have come up with something like, "Todavia no sabemos el numero de nuestro cuarto," I sort of panicked in the moment and said, "Estamos llegando!" to which the man laughed and said that it was clear we were new arrivals. And as we pulled our luggage out of the trunk, he offered to call security and J said it wasn't necessary as the hotel was just across the street and then he told us a story about a woman he found crying because someone had stolen her $1000 necklace and he said it was best for us to just wait for someone to walk over with us.
By the time we were actually checked into our room, we were both pretty frazzled. We ended up having dinner in the restaurant downstairs. Wine helped. And I had the first of several arroz dishes.
Day Two
We woke up ready to kiss San Jose goodbye and to head north to Arenal.
The hotel served a pretty decent breakfast, including — get this — blueberry juice (…which I actually thought said "blackberry juice" at first…). I was *really* excited about it…but actually found it to be a little too sweet.
After breakfast, we got directions and returned to the Corolla…and were heading back to the airport in order to ultimately go north. However, while looking for Paseo Colon again, we somehow ended up going the wrong way on a one-way street and got all turned around (which made me feel bad as J was doing this big, brave thing by driving and I was supposed to be her trusty navigator…but I swear the map said it was a two-way street *and* there was a yellow line in the middle of the road)…but eventually we found another sign for el aeropuerto and proceeded on our three-and-a-half-hour drive. It was very, very green — a really pretty drive…and definitely not like any landscape I'd ever seen before. The turns were a little hairy…and there were lots of people walking along the sides of the roads — including wee little ones…and we kept seeing signs for "queso palmito…" although I don't think we ever quite figured out what that was.
It was all worth it when we got to Arenal though. We had the cutest little bungalow with an amazing view out back of a very lush, tropical landscape. The focal point of all the resorts in the area — the very reason they exist, in fact (their raison d'etre!) — is Volcan Arenal. And everyone at our hotel kept telling us how lucky we were to be able to see the volcano that day…as oftentimes there is so much fog you can't see it at all. (And, sure enough — when we woke up the next day, it was gone and we didn't see it again the entire time we were there. So. We were lucky to have gotten pictures the first day. And this brings me to the first Alaskan Similarity: Seeing Denali [also known as Mount McKinley] is kind of a crapshoot as it is often hidden by clouds. Plus — Similarity #2 — we were in Costa Rica during the rainy season…which I thought was kind of like going to Alaska in the winter. Obviously the weather is different…but in both places, the off-season means lower prices and fewer tourists and it's still really beautiful.)
We stuck close to home for lunch on that second day, opting to eat in the one restaurant on the hotel grounds. I ordered another "typical Costa Rican dish" that came with chicken, rice, plantains, salad, cheese (perhaps queso palmito?) and a fried egg that I gave to J.
Afterward, we (bravely) donned swimwear and headed down to the pool/spa where, luckily, we were the only guests for miles and miles. J jumped in the pool straightaway despite frigid temps, but I wasn't as courageous. Instead, I stood with my feet submerged on the top step as a hotel employee walked by and shouted, "Hace frio?" and I said, "Si!" (one of the few words I can say with much authority) and I *believe* he suggested I jump in right away to get it over with. Eventually I did. But it was darn cold. Sooo…after a lap or two, we retreated to the spa…and before too long a bartender appeared — another one of the hotel employees who commented on how lucky we were to be able to see the volcano — and she asked us if we wanted anything to drink. (There was actually a bar right up along the pool's edge…and I suppose that in the warmer months, you can swim right up and get yourself a drink.) The special on that particular day was a Coco Loco and so soon J and I found ourselves with drinks in coconuts.
We ate in the same restaurant that night…and, this is such a dorky thing to say, but…according to my notes, I had more arroz con pollo (I was big on anything labeled "typical plate" or that was somehow otherwise blatantly Costa Rican). We had tried to go to the supermercado in La Fortuna that afternoon to stock up on some basics and to perhaps not be beholden to that one restaurant…but there was an accident on the main road and we couldn't get through.
And –- indulge me in one more small aside – -all the rice and beans sort of made me think of the Bartender as his stepfather is from Puerto Rico and he grew up eating lots of it and it's what he cooked for himself over and over again after he hurt his foot and was out of work and couldn't really afford to buy much else…and one of our crises this summer was promulgated by him being stupid after he said he was sick of rice and beans and I said, "You know I can cook, right?" and he said, "You'd cook for me?" and I said, "Of course I would!" and I proceeded to plan a totally elaborate meal with an Asian-style flank steak and pickled cucumbers and whatnot…and the night before he was slated to eat said meal, he texted me to say he was going to the Jersey Shore instead. A real gem, that boy. And…prepare to breathe a sigh of relief: When I was in Costa Rica, the relative smallness of the Bartender's actual role in the grand scheme of things finally sort of hit me. He felt really far away…and, while I still miss him, it feels like something finally shifted. It could very well be that I felt the act of going to Costa Rica was really, totally 100% moving on with my life…and that this trip was about getting out and doing things that make me happy instead of wallowing in my apartment and getting droopy eyes every time I walk by his bar. Or something. I am even attempted to identify him by name in one final reckless act to close this particular chapter…like, say, Carrie Bradshaw with Big at the end of the series or Julie Powell with D at the end of Cleaving (…more on that in my next post…)…but, then again, there are some things about him that I'd like to hold close and keep just for me. (The end.)
For dessert, the restaurant offered us a tres leches cake…and we were too full to eat it that night, so we vowed to come back for it before we left for good. I had never had tres leches before, but J had fond memories of it growing up (I think) and said her sister had it at her wedding. This, of course, got the little wheels in my head moving and when I got back to reality, I did a quick search and found an Alton Brown recipe. My mother thinks Alton Brown is absolutely IT because he's scientific and stuff. She is even willing to forsake our family pie crust recipe because she saw an episode of Alton's show in which he said that a mixture of butter and lard makes for the perfect crust and he backed up his theory by explaining what fats bond to and whatnot. I admit that I, too, have been curious about using butter and/or lard…but I haven't done so yet…and part of it is definitely because I'd feel like a traitor to my aunt and my great-grandmother. (And when J and I went back a day or two later, they were *out* of the tres leches cake…so I never actually got to try it there.)
Over our meal, we also talked about red velvet cake and J went off on a pretend tirade about how it isn't really fair that we only use red food color…and I eventually vowed one day to try out blue velvet. (So…perhaps that will come after the Cleaving post…)
Day Three
Not a hugely early start. We had breakfast in the same restaurant…and we got lots of fruit again – including guava (I think…). But pineapple is still my favorite.
The ONE thing that J wanted to do while we were in Costa Rica was to zipline through the rainforest. I was less enthusiastic…but I wimped out of a somewhat similar experience in the sixth grade at a ropes course and so J was able to hold this over my head and to talk about how I had a great opportunity to do it over again and to conquer my fears and whatnot. So…I wanted to get the zipline over and done with early on so I wouldn't have it hanging over my head the entire trip.
And…the hotel was nice and had given us a coupon for a free activity…so, with a heavy heart, I signed up to zipline through the rainforest on Day Three.
Since the hotel was more or less empty, I was hoping we would be the only ones on this zipline trip…but, alas, there were about ten other people, including four guides. J and I were the last to arrive, so we quickly got into our harnesses and I nervously made a joke about having a big head as one of the guides readjusted my helmet.
There were nine lines on this particular course. Another guide, Ishmael, explained to J and I how to use the brake on our right hand and he said that it was important to sit back and to try to be relaxed, etc., etc. I understood all of this more or less in theory. But when I finally looked down from the platform and saw where we were supposed to *go*, I was substantially less sure. It was SO high! And it was beautiful, to be sure…but it was SO HIGH!
J said she was nervous, but she sailed off down the line with the rest of them like an expert.
I was the last one. It was just me and Ishmael left on the first platform. He asked if I was okay. I said I didn't know. He was nice and patient with me…but eventually I told myself that I was going to have to go sometime, so I finally let him let go of me…and, wow. I was really, REALLY tense and my hand with the brake kept flying off the line and that made me even *more* nervous and tense…and it was just so fast…
But when I got to the next platform, J (in waterproof pants!) was super-nice and very encouraging. She kept saying, "You're ziplining through the rainforest! Isn't that incredible??" But I just didn't feel *quite* the same way about it. It *was* really beautiful. And I am certainly glad I did it…but it's one of those things that I have crossed off the list of Things To Do Before I Die…and that's it for me and ziplining, I think.
For the next two lines, it was just me and Ishmael on the platform again after everyone else had left…and it required a lot of encouragement for me to let go again. (I believe the poor guy had to listen to me say, "This wasn't my idea! J wanted to do this! I'm here for her!" a little more than once…) It was so beautiful and green and, well, rainforesty…and unlike anything I have ever seen before…but I had to look straight ahead toward the end point and focus on that and that alone or I never would have made it. I could, however, sort of see all the pretty stuff in my peripheral vision…and despite all of the worries I had about falling or lines snapping, I *did* acknowledge how beautiful it was, too. (The guides kept saying to relax and enjoy the scenery, but…easier said than done, man.)
PLUS you were supposed to pull yourself up so they could hook you onto the line…but I have absolutely no upper body strength whatsoever (not to mention that I have been feeding feelings for months and months and have maybe never been so fat in my entire life)…and so…more elementary school flashbacks to those California State Physical Education Tests (or whatever they were called) and my inability to do a single pull-up. So, basically, I failed. And I hadn't – or, heck, haven't – failed at much in my short(-ish) life. But…despite my best efforts to pull my damn chin up over that damn pole, it never happened. And then we moved to Mississippi where no one had to take tests like that (…but…where further humiliation ensued after I joined the girls' basketball team without realizing what I was getting myself into and ended up on the team with a certain Jennifer White who absolutely hated my guts because I was so bad and who went on – I believe – to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. [And, ironically, our mothers befriended each other in the stands while watching Jennifer win games and me warm benches…but that is a story for another day]).
So…after not pulling myself up on the line and having two distinct panic attacks, I found myself face-to-face with the longest of the ziplines: Number Three. And, boy, oh boy…after Ishmael let me go, I was cursing in my head to such an extent that I would have made sailors, longshoremen and car mechanics blush. (There was a mom along for the trip – her daughters, probably aged 7 or 8 and 11ish, put me to shame – who told me that it helped to scream…but I couldn't bring myself to actually do that. It was silent terror.)
And as I was gearing up for the fourth line and wondering how on earth I could do this six more times, Ishmael finally said, "Do you want me to go with you?" And I excitedly said, "Yes!"
This solved everything. With Ishmael behind me, I no longer had to worry about how/when to brake…and it was completely comforting to think that if I was going to fall into the rainforest below, a strange man was coming down with me.
He was really sweet about it – when we were gearing up to go on the next platform, he called himself my "private taxi" and hooked his line up to mine again. And it was, like, such a damsel in distress moment that I couldn't help but think of him as my hero a little bit…although, sadly, even though the zipline guys had a little hut on the hotel grounds and we had to walk by it to go to the restaurant and stuff, I never saw him again after that trip. Wistful sigh…
After two lines together, he asked if I thought I could go alone again…and I begrudgingly said I could…and then he said he'd go with me on the final line, which perked me up immensely. And I found that the guides were right and it really *did* help to be more relaxed…although, as noted, it was not easy to do.
And there was also a strange intimacy associated with ziplining…by which I mean Ishmael could get away with saying things like, "Wrap your legs around me!" and he wasn't just being skeevy.
Later, J and I were in the hot tub and reminiscing about our adventure and I spoke of a moment on one of the platforms when I had been hooked up on the line but was waiting for Ishmael – and I had perhaps just moments earlier confessed my schoolgirl crush, which, in hindsight, may have accounted for her line of thinking – and I was sort of swinging around and not in complete control of myself when I accidentally kneed one of the other guides in the crotch. So…I said to J, "I kneed him in the crotch," and J looked totally horrified and I said, "It was an accident! I didn't mean to!" and a wave of relief spread over her face and she said, "Oh! I thought you were saying, 'I need him in the crotch.'"
After Line Nine was in the can, the guys offered an optional rappelling adventure and I was sort of torn…on the one hand, I felt like I should do it because I was in Costa Rica and when on earth was I going to have another opportunity to go rappelling down a waterfall? But, on the other hand, I had already done a really brave thing that day…and when I realized that I really hadn't paid attention to what the guy was saying about how to lower yourself off the platform, I figured I had probably had enough boundary extension for one day.
J was brave though. She rappelled.
As I waited for her by the bus, one of the guides pointed out a bat in a banana tree…and lots of vampire jokes ensued. (Blame Twilight?)
Then there was lots of rain and fog…and the volcano was totally obscured – it was like it wasn't even there…which, again, sort of reminded me of trying to spot Denali in Alaska. Sometimes you get lucky and it's a clear day…but when it's cloudy, you get bupkus. We finally understood why everyone had said it was such a big deal the day before. We were concerned it was perhaps *too* foggy to drive to La Fortuna, but we were sick of the restaurant, so we decide to brave it anyway. There, we stocked up on platanos tostados (my absolute favorite), empanadas, and some sort of cheese sticks, among other comestibles…and we had a little picnic on our patio. There was a cat wandering the hotel grounds that appeared again…and I wanted to take her photo, but J initially chastised me for trying to exploit the poor animal…and later relented when she was annoyed that the cat wouldn't go away.
Day Four
We had to get a really early start because a bus was stopping by to pick us up and take us to Cano Negro. (We still managed to sneak in breakfast at the restaurant though. More plantains. Which, as noted, I love.)
We had two guides, both named Javier. And after stopping at two more hotels to pick up an additional couple/family, one Javier drove while the other regaled us with folklore. Our first stop was an iguana refuge that Javier alluded to by telling us that the particular animal we were about to see is known as, "chicken of the tree." (Plus, fun fact: Males are bright orange.)
Javier asked us if anybody in the group spoke Spanish…and then he made the dos cervezas joke that everyone seems to make after asking if anyone knows Spanish ("The only thing you need to know how to say is, "Dos cervezas, por favor…").
When we finally got to Las Chiles, we boarded a pontoon boat…which sort of reminded me of a scene from the African Queen…
The driver of the boat was known as "Eagle Eyes" because of his incredible ability to spot animals…and he was totally deserving of the name. And this was yet another part of the trip that reminded me of Alaska — Similarity Three — the boat ride was sort of like taking the bus in Denali…you have to keep your eyes peeled and what you see over the course of the day is totally a crapshoot. But…as soon as someone sees something and shouts, "Stop!" the bus (or boat) will pull over and everyone oohs and ahhs and takes pictures and then you all set off again…I was a little worried at first because there was a birdwatching couple from England that repeatedly spotted birds…and we initially stopped for each one and Javier explained what it was…and, you know, I like birds as much as the next guy…but I was really jonesing for some monkeys. Luckily, after we'd more or less seen one of each of the birds they have in Cano Negro, the guide politely acknowledged the couples' subsequent discoveries, but we didn't pull over anymore. (And then little boy on shore waved at us. And my biological clock began ticking just a little louder…)
And then…a sloth! And howler monkeys (including an orange one that Javier said had a genetic abnormality that happens when the grandfather is also the father)! And another kind of monkey (perhaps spider?)! And capuchin monkeys! And caimans! (Caimen?) It was really quite something.
We crossed over the Nicaraguan border very briefly — really only long enough to take a picture of the "Welcome to Nicaragua" sign and to turn around. But, technically speaking, I have been to Nicaragua now. (Sort of like Kentucky. I was there for about 15 minutes this summer while we were killing time. It was really only long enough to take a picture of some chickens. So…not sure if I can count it on my list of new states this year…which, for the record otherwise numbers five: New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Virginia and Colorado.)
We went back down the Rio Frio, where we saw more birds, bats and another sloth. Javier warned us that you have to be really careful with your camera on beaches as capuchin monkeys really like shiny objects and will run up and steal them from you if you are not vigilant.
And I swear this wasn't all that I ate, but after we disembarked, we stopped off for more arroz con pollo before the hour-long drive back to Arenal. There, J began talking to a couple from Houston who were in Costa Rica celebrating their anniversary and who really liked Vancouver as well…and they said they had recently visited New York, but hated it…in part because, as the husband said, there are too many foreigners.
It was mostly quiet on the drive back to Arenal…along the way, we stopped off at a farm where we saw some more animals and ate a cassava-cheese thing that was kind of the same consistency as a lemon bar. I liked it.
By then, it was raining again…but we were really lucky that the weather was so nice while we were on the river. It rains eight months out of the year there…which, again, is sort of like Alaska (in that winter — like the rainy season — is really, really long).
That night, J and I returned to the hot tub…where there were a group of youngsters cavorting…including a couple of boys who cut up limes and dropped them into their shorts and squealed.
Day Five
I got up early to go horseback riding. J had opted out of this particular activity…but it had been SO long since I'd been horseback riding and I really wasn't sure when I would have a chance to do it again, so I decided it was worth going sola. But, unlike the zipline adventure that I had hoped would be just me and J, the morning horseback ride turned out to actually be just me and the guide, Alex.
My horse's name was Eclipse. Alex asked me how long it had been since I'd ridden a horse and I did some quick math and came up with a 17-year estimate. And…Eclipse trotted and galloped a lot faster than anything I remembered…plus, it was raining and everything was muddy and slippery. The ol' boy even got up to a canter at one point – which, when I was taking lessons as a girl, was the really big, scary thing that took me a long time to do.
While I was getting ready that morning, I wanted to wear my yellow pants…but because it was raining so much, I *had* to bring my rain jacket…which, unfortunately, is yellow…and I didn't want to look like I belonged on Deadliest Catch…so I went with my red pants instead…but then Alex gave me a blue helmet…so I ended up looking like a character on a children's television show (Or worse.).
We saw a howler monkey at the very beginning…but, despite Alex's best effort to hoot at it, it didn't make a peep. We also saw a lot of vultures and some toucans…but, sadly, the toucans were sort of hard to make out (distinctive beaks, I guess…but that's about it…) and so Toucan Sam remains my benchmark. (I hate to whip out Alaska again, but I was really excited about seeing puffins for the first time at Prince William Sound [also where I saw otters in the wild for the first time…]. They're so tiny! And I think this is maybe Similarity #5?)
The ride was really rainy and muddy…and, like I said, Alex kept telling me to make kissy noises at the horse to make him go faster, but I was perfectly happy with taking a more leisurely pace. (Alex also kept calling me, "Vacara!" and "Cowgirl!") There were lots of rocks and streams and stuff…so we definitely got out beyond where I ever could have possibly walked on foot…and it was all worth it when we got into the rainforest…which was my absolute favorite part. It was so beautiful and green and just like I had always pictured it (instead of, you know, sort of taking it in peripherally as I flew by in the trees)…
We ran into another group along the way…but, as noted, my Spanish is perhaps less than conversational…and so other than, "Buenas!" I was pretty much out. There was a big lake near the volcano that had lots of water lilies in it and Alex had me bring Eclipse out into the middle of it so he could take a picture of me and the horse in the water. (Alex was really sweet and took a lot of photos of me and the horse along with way…which is just one of the reasons it is so unfortunate that I looked like such a buffoon.)
Unfortunately, we couldn't see the volcano again because of the fog…but Alex still had me tie up my horse when we reached the top of the mountain so we could give him a breather…which I maybe thought was a little strange as the other group came up right behind us, but went on without a break. And then Alex asked me how old I am and if I am married and it was a little awkward…and I, in turn, asked him all the questions I could possibly think to ask…but then I ran out and we were still just sort of sitting there and I was trying to think about how to nicely ask about when we were going to untie the horses and hit the road again…but finally — after an interminably long break — we took off again.
On the way back, Alex took us through a pen with a bunch of bulls in it — big, huge bulls with jowly necks — and I guess he could tell I was maybe a little nervous as he said, "Don't worry! Bulls are afraid of horses!" I am not entirely sure I believe him…but, no harm, no foul…and I guess in hindsight, it is kind of fun to be able to say that I rode a horse among Costa Rican bulls.
Along the way down, we ran into the owner of the bulls…who was also on horseback. He was wearing a black cape and had a black cowboy hat and his horse was black, too, and Alex took a picture of him giving me a thumb's up and I couldn't help but think that he looked like a Black Bart-type character.
Alex said we should keep our eyes peeled for wild pigs on the way back…and I was tempted to ask about whether they are javelinas as my parents have wild pigs near *their* house…but I was still feeling a little awkward from our "Why are you not married?"-conversation at the top of the mountain and it was still raining and my pants were soaked through and I had a pool of water in the hood of my jacket and, while enjoyable and memorable and everything, I was sort of ready to be done with the whole thing. (We didn't find any pigs anyway.)
And, you know, the whole time I was thinking, "Boy, Lisa, you're really going to pay for this tomorrow," and I was scared that I was going to be sore forever…but, amazingly, I was fine. If anything, my stomach muscles hurt after ziplining…and I really didn't even pull myself onto the line all that much. One of the poor guides (not my beloved Ishmael) had to help me. (Cringe.) Is it perhaps possible that worrying can make your stomach muscles hurt?
In the hot tub that night, J and I met a guy named Jeff from Jacksonville…who was a big surfer and was talking about perhaps moving to Costa Rica…at least for six months out of the year so he can catch lots of gnarly waves. He seemed rather disappointed with Arenal as he couldn't see the volcano and there wasn't much of a nightlife there. At dinner, J said that if I wanted him, he was all mine. I had – not arroz con anything! – tilapia a lo macho…which was supposed to be spicy…but either I am tough or it wasn't that bad. And…I had seen a lot about a beer called Imperial, which billed itself "La cerveza de Costa Rica," and this was the first night that I tried it. Good stuff. (Although every meathead American guy at the airport was wearing an Imperial t-shirt on the way home, so it may just be that I have bad taste…)
Day Six
We had to finally say goodbye to Hotel Montana de Fuego. And…I was kind of sad about it. I had gotten (mildly) attached to our cute little bungalow and – here's unequivocal proof of how clingy I am – I would officially never see Ishmael ever again. (I also finally summoned up the courage to take a picture of the oxcart at the restaurant there by thinking about my mother's "What are you worried about?? You're never going to see these people ever again!"-advice.)
J expertly maneuvered our Corolla back down south to Alajuela (which, we learned, is far superior to San Jose when it comes to accommodations near to the airport. MUCH more low-key). We wanted to eventually head further south to Manuel Antonio, but to sneak in a tour of a coffee plantation while we were at it…and Alajuela seemed the perfect halfway point.
We tried to retrace our steps…but it got a little confusing in San Ramon…which was the first place I had to pop out to ask for directions. (By the end of the day, I had never said, "Estamos buscando X y no sabemos donde estamos," so many times in my life.)
Along the way, we stopped off for more plantain chips…but, sadly, these weren't as good as those first ones from that supermercado in La Fortuna. (I think they had some lime. SO good.)
We had a devil of a time finding our hotel…it was on the same road as a giant aviary called "Zoo Ave" and I got a lot of mileage out of saying, "Estamos buscando Zoo Ave…" and then we saw a sign that said the hotel was in 1200 meters (damn the metric system!) and I swore we had gone 1200 meters and then some and there was no sign of a hotel and so we stopped at a furniture store and I used my phrase on a guy on a motorcycle…and, while he hadn't heard of our hotel specifically, he told me that all of the hotels were down to our left…and I really wanted to say, "But there's a sign right over there that says our hotel is in 1200 meters!" But, alas, I could not…and so I was pointing to where the sign was and trying to say something about the hotel as he was saying, "There are no hotels that way!" So, sadly, after all those Spanish classes in high school and college, I was left on that street in Alajuela, thinking, "How in the hell do you say, 'sign'?" Sigh again.
We *did* finally find it though…and it was a cute little cabiny room…with a very bizarre showerhead.
J and I were *supposed* to go on the 3:30 tour at Doka Estate…but, alas, we got really lost again…and I tried to use my phrase…but to no avail. (The guy who owned our hotel in Alajuela was a very chatty Canadian who later told us that Ticos – that's Costa Ricans – find it very rude not to answer a question…and so sometimes they will tell you something just to tell you something.) So…we totally missed our tour, but were determined to find the damn Estate so that we wouldn't have so much trouble the following morning…and the lady at the front desk at our hotel had said that we'd just go two kilometers and then turn left and then go another two kilometers until we got to the fork in the road and then turn right and then we'd see tons of signs…but…we didn't see any signs…and facil it was not.
Along the way, we *almost* stopped off for dinner at a place called El Mirador that was supposed to have amazing views…but we ended up going back to our hotel and then walking to a seafood joint called La Princesa that had a giant anchor out front (it was one of the landmarks they gave us when giving us directions to Doka Estate). I had more rice and shrimp and Imperial…and we ordered tres leches…but J didn't like it very much. I liked the flavor…but thought the texture was a little bit like watery cheesecake.
On the walk back home, we saw giant leafcutter ants all in a line, each carrying a single leaf. And…it wasn't exactly a restful night as there were very loud Englishmen outside *and* there was a storm.
Day Seven
In an attempt *not* to get lost again, we got very long-winded directions from the Canadian guy who owned the hotel.
And, as luck would have it, we *thought* we had found Doka Estate the evening before, but…really all we had found was one of the signs…and so we had to keep going up the hill and we still sort of struggled to find the damn place…even after all that legwork from the day before.
We *finally* arrived at about 10:15 and were luckily able to sneak into the 10:00 tour that only included one couple from Michigan. There, we learned lots and lots about coffee-making from a guide who reminded me a lot of my friend Carmen. And there was unlimited free coffee at the end of the tour.
We got a little lost on the way back, but we ended up finding a gas station…so sort of kismet.
Afterward, we wanted to make our way to Manuel Antonio…and the Canadian guy had sworn up and down that the route was easy and there would be signs and stuff. And, luckily, he was right! It was a good three-plus-hour drive…but we didn't get lost! And there were lots of signs! And we crossed a bridge that had crocodiles underneath and were able to pull off and see them and get right back in the car and go on our merry way…and the monkey hotel (when I read its motto was, "Still more monkeys than people," I was totally sold) had room for us even though we didn't have a reservation…and we got a room that looked like it was straight out of Swiss Family Robinson that was pretty much all windows and wood…and had a giant sliding door and two rocking chairs that said "Costa Rica" on the seats out front. Plus, our towels were folded into hearts and the toilet paper was folded into flowers. (I am easily impressed.) And the view from the pool was amazing and open and tropical and very much paradise-y…
We had an early dinner at a restaurant called the Anaconda (which made me think of the big butt song) and a bat flew by us over and over as we looked out on the trees and the water and swooned. I had a weird melony drink and J helped me compose a list of traits of my ideal man. (If you're a brunette with big arms, you're still in the running!)
Day Eight
Official Manuel Antonio Day. I was *really* looking forward to this day as the park was supposed to be crawling with wildlife. And even though I eventually outgrew the ape/monkey phase inspired by my report on orangutans in the sixth grade, I still really like them and have never had an opportunity to see them in the wild before.
The park was only a short drive from our hotel…so we quickly encountered a guy with a whistle who blew us over and told us where to park and tried to talk us into taking a tour with him. We had heard mixed reviews of these tours (including invaluable advice from Jeff from Jacksonville) and decided we might as well try to go into the park on our own as Jeff advised and that if the trip was totally a bust, we could easily go back the next day and cough up money for a guide. (This particular guide told us that we would only see two lizards the entire day if we attempted to go on our own, but he finally relented when we said we'd maybe be back…)
But as we were walking toward the park, we saw him blowing his whistle at other cars…but they ignored him and swerved around…and he had also said that the park was in 500 meters, but there was a sign around the corner as clear as day that said the park was in 1 kilometer…and then we sort of put two and two together and decided to move the car to a more accessible location.
And…even without a guide, we were still able to sort of mooch off of the tour groups in the park as we knew there would be animals wherever they were stopped. Howler monkeys were easy to spot because they're so damn loud…but sloths were harder and were where mooching really paid off.
We eventually made it out to a beach and I took a photo of the "Don't feed the monkeys"-sign while desperately hoping I would see some actual monkeys.
Out on the beach, J found some tadpoles in a pool in some rocks…and I followed behind but then slipped and fell in my dumb tennis shoes…and my knee really hurt…so I was perfectly happy to sit on the beach for awhile afterward while J went swimming. So…as I sat there and watched J swim and marveled at how pretty it was and pondered what to do with my life, a raccoon appeared behind me…and it surprised me, so I jumped up…and, remember that shopping bag that doubled as my purse? Well…that ballsy little raccoon came right up to where I was sitting and made a grab for it and I wasn't quite sure what to do…but luckily a man saw what was happening and shouted and clapped at him and the raccoon ran away without my bag. (I got a photo of him though…)
And…after J was finished swimming and had showered off and everything, we walked back…and decided to pop off on one of the other trails called El Mirador. And…this is where it all happened. Out on the trail, we found so many capuchin monkeys! And they were right above our heads! And they were eating berries and talking to us…(and, yes, pooping…). And it was just so incredible — it was one of those things I will always remember. I never wanted it to end. And then on the way back, we saw more howler monkeys and sloths. It was quite a successful morning!
We had lunch at a quite little spot in Quepos called Cafe Milagro and then hung out by the pool with the magical view for awhile before changing into fancier duds and hitting up Salsipuedes (one of my favorite names *ever*) for tapas and one of the most beautiful (and fast!) sunsets I have ever seen and a black cat that ended up in my lap. I then talked J into a cantina crawl, so we hit up El Avion, La Cantina and Anaconda again…except this time they were playing that song about hos in different area codes and I was once again able to marvel at the fact that I have lived in SO MANY different places and yet the only area codes I know in that song are from Georgia and New York. And — funny enough — there was a big flat screen TV at one of the bars on which you could watch — get this — the CU/OSU game en vivo. So. A bizarre little reminder of home smack-dab in the middle of Central America.
Day Nine
Our trip was coming to an end…so we had to say goodbye to the monkey hotel, too, and make our way back to Alajuela once again.
But, as our hotel had bragged about having more monkeys than people, I really wanted to go out on one of the trails to find some of the little buggers before we left…but, alas, it was wet and there was a precipitous drop and so J and I decided to quit while we were ahead and we made our way back toward the middle of the country. The drive was pretty much okay…although we got lost a little bit more than we did on the way there…and Hotel Orquideas had a room for us (despite all of my worries that we would be high and dry without reservations for every single night that we were there…). The hotel even had a Marilyn Monroe-themed bar, where we spent the early part of our final evening there…and then we retired to our room, where I happened to catch my very favorite Costa Rican TV commercial one last time. (I *believe* it was for a deodorant…and it showed women in long sleeves who lifted their arms toward the sky and then their sleeves shot off and turned into fireworks. I cannot *believe* that I did not think to write down the name so I could search for it on YouTube.)
And, with that, Costa Rica was basically over. And soooo is my blog post.


text:
A Sandwich A Day: Balık Ekmek in Istanbul
A different sandwich profiled every single day.
One of my favorite things about eating in Istanbul is the preponderance of cheap, awesome seafood. (Apparently, mid-November is a great time for fish-eating. I am happy to time all of my vacations around fish-eating from now on.) And the easiest way to eat said fish is from a street stand—just about every one selling balık ekmek (translating literally to "fish bread": a simple fish sandwich.)
On both sides of the Galata Bridge, in the waterfront neighborhoods of Eminonu and Karakoy, you'll see tiny grills set up with bold BALIK EKMEK signs. (It's a little disconcerting that these stalls sit so close to the hundreds of amateur fishermen casting their lines off the bridge, into what must surely be terribly polluted waters. But the street vendors won't be serving those fish.)
Here's one from the Karakoy side of the bridge, at a little waterfront restaurant affiliated with a fish seller adjacent to it. (This one was 5 lira, about $2.75 USD; most around the area seemed to be 4 or 5 TL.) The sandwiches are simple: a mackerel fillet quickly grilled, salted and sprinkled with red pepper, served with onion, lettuce, and a wedge of lemon for squeezing over the top. Nothing fancy, but simple, fresh, and totally satisfying.
Kariköy Fish Market
At the end of the Kariköy Fish Market to the west of the Galata Bridge Kariköy, Istanbul
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I'm having trouble placing an ad in the car classifieds
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Is there any way to update this post with more recent information? I would like to post a used BMW for sale on your forum, and am having trouble doing so. I'm assuming this may be because I'm a new member and perhaps there is some minimum number of posts I must have before I will be allowed to post a classified? Is this correct? Where can I find the current policy information regarding posting an ad? Thanks!22.214.171.124
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Race Info / Results 2019
Winners by age group
Boys 7-8: Frank Ferguson
Boys 9-10: Samuel Little
Boys 11-12: Theo Oak
Boys 13-14: Jonas Judah
Boys 15-16: Jonah Davies – HAC (also Reg Wild Award) Overall Winner
Girls 7-8: Isabella Buchanan
Girls 9-10: Megan Hopkins-Parry
Girls 11-12: Rae Le Fay
Girls 13-14: Shannon Hopkins Parry - HAC (also Reg Wild Award) Overall Winner
Girls 15-16: Amalie Primdal
School team awards
1: St.Leonards Academy - Jonah Davies, Lewis Courtnage, Reece Lincoln
2: Buckswood School – Suguru Matsumoto, Kyongju Park, Kyrylo Feschenko
3: William Parker Academy - Shain Barker, Benjamin Hobson, Logan Woodhurst
1: St.Leonards Academy – Elisha Paige, Bella Brown, Madeleine Jenkinson
2: All Saints School – Flo Colwell, Daisy Chapman, Lexi Andrew
3: ARK Castledown – Beatrice Gant, Kerola Kozlova, Iris Sharp
Main Race Hastings Half Marathon Main Sponsor Hastings Direct
Toby Salmon
Megan Hollingsworth
1: Gary Foster Plus first HAC Winner
2: Rhys Boorman
3: Jeff Pyrah
1: Rachael Mulvey Plus First HAC Winner
2: Jenna French
3: Sophie McGoldrick
Hastings Runners Awards
Men Ashley Jury
Women Debbie Humbles
National Masters Sponsored by Wisdens Trophy and Prize Each
40-44: Daniel Anderson
45-49: Jeff Pyrah
50-54: Gary Judges Not here
55-59: Stuart Adesilu
60-64: Robin Smith
65-69: David Thornley
70-74: Bob Hughes Not here
75-79: Hermann Groenevelt Dordrecht - No here
80-84 Michael Dee Not here
40-44: Freya Mary Leman
45-49: Linda Scholfield
50-54: Luoanne Albrecht
55-59: Christine Costiff - No Here
60-64: Joan Lennon
65-69: Francis Delves
70-74: Sarah Marzaioli
Local masters Sponsored by Hastings adventure Golf
40-44: Leo Cacciatore
45-49: Bob Russell
50-54: Darren Barzee Not Here
55-59: Mick Bacon
60-64: Andy Lee
65-69: Robert Mouzer
70-74: Robert Dennis
75-79: Peter Greenhalgh
40-44: Nina Lambrou
45-49: Amanda Link
50-54: Debbie Humbles
55-59: Frances Burnham Not Here
60-64: Cathyy Bate
65-69: Sylvia Huggett
70-74: Erica Wilson
Special Presentation to Jake Coleman
Jake Collapsed after finishing this year's Half Marathon, and his heart stopped.He was quickly treated by the Medical Team,who shocked him with a Defribillator to re-start his heart.
He was quickly treated by the Medical Team,who shocked him with a Defribillator to re-start his heart.
He was subsequently taken to Eastbourne Hospital by Air Ambulance,where he was further treated.
Jake also had an operation at St.Thomas's Hospital London.
We are very pleased to see him here now to collect a memento of his Experience, and to acknowledge the help of the Medical Team that looked after him.
Also ask for Tim Hodgson who treated him to come forward.
UKA team award Sponsored by Littlewood Fencing
1: HAC - Gary Foster, Rhys Boorman, Jeff Pyrah, Daniel Anderson
2: Hastings Runners - Ashley Jury, Colin White, Leo Cacciatore, Darren Barzee
3: Dartford Harriers - Janusz Latala, Daniel Pyne. Nick Varley, Reuben Burford
1: HAC – Rachael Mulvey, Jenna French, Sophie McGoldrick, Rebecca Mabon
2. Brighton & Hove AC(Paula Blackledge, Ali Guyihen, Freya Leman, Gilliam Bickle)
3: Hailsham Harriers – Sarah Underwood, Annette Feakes, Lisa Goldsmith, Tina Macenhill
Masters teams Sponsored by Bartletts Seat
1: Hastings Runners – Ashley Jury, Leo Cacciatore, Darren Barzee, Bob Russell
2: HAC – Jeff Pyrah, Daniel Anderson, John Ralph, Michael Beaumont
3: Lewes AC – Chris Gilbert, Robert Cooper, Leo Spall, Robert Gerardo
1: Hailsham Harriers – Annette Feakes, Lisa Goldsmith, Tina Macenhill, Tracy Erridge
2: Hastings Runners – Debbie Humbles, Nina Lambrou, Jane Coles, Clare Lippiatt
3: Brighton Phoenix (Amelia Culshaw, Charlotte Softly, Gill Checkley,Tabitha Atkinson)
Special Award to Colin Twamley Colin ran the first Hastings Half 35 years ago,and has subsequently taken part every year since. He has decided that now is the time to retire ,having been one of 13 who have ran every Event since the start.
Also Award to Jerry Adley, who completed 34 years of Hastings Half,but was unable to take part this year due to recovering from a Big Operation. He was the only one of 'The Few' who could not keep going this year.
Eastbourne winners Sponsored by TEMPO
Gary Judges NOT HERE
Laura Temple (4th Female overall on Day)
1066 Bakery prize for 1066 finish position
Andrew Battley.
Ron Sellman Sport Award Sponsored by Freedom Leisure
1: Icklesham Casuuals FC – Michael Beaumont, Val Newman, Matt East, Martin Tytherleigh~
2: Raw Runners – Kelly Burgess, Rick Burgess, Kyrsty Winch, Michelle Lower
3: ASPT – Natasha Dobson, Craig Sealby, Louise Moor, Charles Shaw
Nonaffiliated teams Sponsored by Hastings Direct
1: Team Sparkle - Dan Isted, Neil Sellman, Tom Brampton, Sara Wadbrook
2: Oliver Curd Trust - Paul Willis, Ben Turner, Gary Bourn, Mark Pollard
3: Hundred Hulks – Doug Jordan, Anthony Mannion, Jesse Buckle, Martha Clark
Family Awards Sponsored by Spire Sussex Hospital
1: Thomas Max, Mark ad Jo
2: Boardman James, Tony and Claire
3: Cook Hannah, Chris and Brian Not Here.
1st Local Family Jury Family (Ashley, Tim, Tom)
Husband and wife runners Sponsored by Beauport Holiday Park
1: Sharon & Tom Evans
2: Helena & Leigh Millard Not Here
3: Rachael & Colin White
Spire Shield of Courage (in memory of Brenda Boyle)
Charley Miles.
Special award to recognise the inspirational achievement of Charley Miles.~
Charley was born with 18q Syndrome a rare chromosome disorder. This means she has a number of health issues including being almost completely deaf. Her hearing condition is alleviated somewhat by a bone anchored hearing aid which allows her brain to interpret sounds via the vibrations transmitted into her skull. Given her condition, she has ongoing challenges and has struggled to find employment but strives to be like any other 24 year old.
She remains though very cheerful, almost always with a smile on her face and a very determined young lady - a regular member of the 1066 Specials football team, intrepid explorer and walker.
Having thought about completing the Hastings Half Marathon over the years, she was inspired by her uncle who came from Sydney, Australia to run this year and decided only a few days before that she was up for the challenge too.
She knew that she was never going to be fast, but her goal was to complete the course. Wearing the new kit she had bought the day before she walked and ran the course, determined that she would finish despite the crowds of spectators and marshal's having largely gone long before she reached the later parts of the course. Charley never gave up crossing the line to a waiting small group of family, marshalls and kind supporters in 4 hours and 42 minutes.
The time didn't matter to Charley it was all about putting herself to the challenge of completing the course. What an inspiration to us all.
I would now like to present Charley with the Spire Hospital Brenda Boyle Shield of Courage Award in recognition of her fantastic achievement.
Business teams Sponsored by Kings Stationers
1: Royal Mail – Darren Barzee, Terry Regan, Simon Apps, David Townsend
2: White Rock Hotel – Janek Janek, Donna Seymour, Barbara Romanowski, Kerri Reader
3: Hastings Ambulance – Lucas Vega, Steve Barker, Joe Harris, Gareth Hulin
Charity teams of six
1: St.Michael's Hospice Matthew Badham, Ben Chatfield, Charles Suckling, David Clarke, Bill Solly, Richard Davis
2: Team Sparkle – Dan Isted, Neil Sellman, Tom Brampton, Sara Wadbrook, Mark Wadbrook, Sara-Jane Fox-Tuck~
3: Oliver Curd Trust – Paul Willis, Ben Turner, Gary Bourn,Mark Pollard, Jodie Crouch, Luke Atkinson
Special Award
to Kevin & Janice Harmer – 35 years of supplying Drinks at the Half Marathon, and now retiring from this fantastic record,with acknowledgement to Hastings Area Girl Guides.
Bo Peep Award Hastings Ambulance Runners
Fancy dress winners Sponsored by Hastings Observer
Chosen by the Hastings Observer
1: Darren Owen Big Bird
2: Michael Benton Organ Donate Phone
3: Sam Harman 'Minion'
Dyer Charity Shield at end
Draw for Vouchers
Souvenirs Available
Date next year - Sunday 29th March 2020
Hastings Runners Five Mile Race - Sunday 12th May 2019. Enter now


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text:
We can close up shop now, video gaming has reached its highest possible pinnacle as TV's Bob Saget gets on the cover of a Nintendo DS game. Destination Software Incorporated today announced the video game adaptation of the hit game show 1 vs. 100, which pits a player against a mob of 100 people in an all-out fight to the death, as Saget lords over the proceedings wearing Ancient Roman Garb.
Okay, it isn't quite that awesome. Basically the show pits a contestant against the combined minds of 100 people. The game will actually include a fun multiplayer mode that pits the player against a friend, effectively making the game 1vs. 1 and therefor not nearly as entertaining, but still.
Expect to see Bob Saget's smiling face adorning game store shelves this June.
NEW JERSEY (May 20, 2008)—Endemol and Destination Software Incorporated (DSI) today announced the release of a video game for the Endemol franchise "1 vs. 100." The title will be in-stores in June for the Nintendo DS™ system for $19.99. This is the second collaboration for the two companies, as DSI published the multi-platform video game release for "Deal or No Deal" in 2007.
The "1 vs. 100" game recreates the television smash hit while additional modes of play add elements completely unique to the portable video game. Players can compete against a friend through a multiplayer challenge in a tense battle of the brains, as one player must assume the role of "The Mob" of 100 and stop the other from winning. Other variations include a Poker-style trivia game, where players wager cash based on their confidence of the answer. The video game will feature "1 vs. 100" television host Bob Saget.
"We strive to find unique ways to expand home entertainment and television viewership, and bringing a fantastic TV game show like '1 vs. 100' to portable video gaming achieves those objectives," says Tina Hoover, Director of Production for Endemol USA. "We look forward to continuing our relationship with DSI as they achieve repeated success with the family and casual gaming markets."
"We at DSI are incredibly excited to continue our partnership with Endemol," says Steve Newton, Executive Vice President of DSI. "Bringing this incredibly successful game show to a portable video game system allows players to enjoy not only the game, but also a library of challenging trivia questions. '1 vs. 100' is a perfect pick-up-and-play video game title."
In both its seasons on air, "1 vs. 100" has consistently been the #1 or #2 rated program in its timeslot, handily beating tough competition. Also, the show's ratings consistently increase from the first half hour to the second, proving that viewers just can't turn it off and can't get enough!
The deal between DSI and Endemol was facilitated by Joy Tashjian Marketing Group (JTMG) and DSI's licensing agent, 360ep, Inc.
For more information on the "1 vs. 100" video game, visit www.dsigames.com.


text:
Setting the Mahmud
RSBS Special Correspondent and long-time supporter of the Green Party, Mr. Johanna Mahmud reports:
Chess is life.
I love pitching rivalries, matchups within divisions and the occasional interleague throwdown. That's a giant piece of cake for me!!!
What pairing will be this year's best? Let's examine the possibilities, with Bobby Fischer setting the stage…
"I play honestly and I play to win. If I lose, I take my medicine."
Yu Darvish/King Felix!
"I like the moment when I break a man's ego."
Stephen Strasburg/Josh Johnson!
"Chess is war over the board. The object is to break your opponents mind."
Jon Lester/C.C. Sabathia!
"Chess is a matter of delicate judgement. When when to punch and how to duck."
Johnny Cueto??? Hmmm… Matt Garza??
My personal favorite pairing of all time — the one that really captivated me — is, of course, Bobby Fischer/Boris Spassky. Sometimes Bobby battled himself even! (Fast Eddy Felson and Minnesota Fats come in a close second).
Baseball can't start soon enough.
–Johanna Mahmud
Follow Johanna on Twitter!


text:
There's so much we don't yet know about Prey 2. We know, officially, that the game is coming from Human Head Studios and Bethesda Softworks, and that it's bound for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next year. But who's that guy on the left?
That guy on the left, who doesn't look too much like Domasi "Tommy" Tawodi from the original Prey (on the right), graces the cover of Swedish gaming mag Game Reactor, one of the many reveals we should expect in print this month. Bethesda has confirmed that the May issues of Official Xbox Magazine and PlayStation: The Official Magazine will offer more insight into Prey 2, but this info morsel emerged earlier today on Twitter.
"It's worth clarifying that this Prey 2 is not what was announced before by anyone else," writes Bethesda marketing veep Pete Hines. "This is the Prey 2 Human Head wanted to make." Maybe that's a game with a new protagonist or simply a Tommy with a new stylist.
Your theories on what they wanted to make are welcome in the comments.


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How Firm is Firm Enough for a Baby Crib Mattress?
How Firm is Firm Enough for a Baby Crib Mattress?
I've seen several blogs and forums where people talk and ask questions about how firm a crib mattress should be. One person said "If it feels good to me, it's okay for my baby." Is that a good rule of thumb?
In fact, it's not – unless you like a very firm mattress. Because babies are still growing, their spines and bones need more support than we do.
While there are no precise rules about crib mattress firmness, there are solid enough guidelines to help you choose the right one.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that a baby mattress be firm and flat.
Consumer Reports recommends buying the firmest mattress you can find. In fact, they address the exact comment made by the person on the forum: "Don't worry that it may feel too firm. If it feels good to you, it's too soft for your baby,"
To test a crib mattress to determine whether it's firm enough, Consumer Reports suggests you "Press on the mattress in the center and at the edges. It should snap back readily and should not conform to the shape of your hand."
In Naturepedic baby crib mattresses, our organic cotton batting makes the mattress surface comfortable without sacrificing firmness. Babies are pretty cozy on our mattresses and they routinely sleep through the night. Soft, comfortable and firm – just right!


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[Letter from unknown person to Mexia, May 27, 1836]
Description: Letter from unknown person to Mexia: Arriving to Galveston and hearing the news of the retreat of the enemy. Describes conditions of the prisoners in Galveston and mentions speaking to some of the imprisoned officers. Galveston, May 27, 1836.
Date: May 27, 1836
Item Type: Refine your search to only Letter
Partner: The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History